Hayyel delights Brabazon in last at Sligo

Hayyel (2/1f) was strongest in the final furlong of the Tote Goes Twilight At Sligo Maiden as she delivered for Dick Brabazon and Oisin Orr.

The four-year-old Dark Angel filly swept past Itsalonglongroad racing to the furlong pole and was ridden to go and win her race.

She asserted in the final 100 yards to beat Itsalonglongroad (7/2) by two and a half lengths. Lucky Phil attracted plenty of support but finished three parts of a length out of the places in third.

Dick Brabazon said: “She’s done everything right in her four runs. I’m delighted to get a win for the Rogers family because they are great supporters of my pre-training business and we go back a long way. My dad was apprenticed to Anthony’s great grandfather back in the 1930’s. He was in Crotanstown when Jack Rogers trained the five classic winners in 1935.

“She’ll be a handicapper at a mile and two and a mile and a half. It’s great to get a win as she’s by Dark Angel out of a Galileo mare.

“Mark Gallagher rode her work last week and he said she’d like it good. I thought she wanted a cut in it but the ground this evening was no problem.”

This was a successful step up in trip to an extended mile and a quarter for Hayyel.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee